title: Combined physical and psychosexual therapy for provoked vestibulodynia-an evaluation of a multidisciplinary treatment model.
abstract: Our objective is to standardize and evaluate a combined physical and psychosexual therapy for women with provoked vestibulodynia. Twenty-four patients underwent the treatment program. Sessions with a psychosexual counselor included issues on sexual functioning, psychological adjustments, and stress elimination. Exercises for mucosal desensitization and reestablishment of pelvic floor function were supervised by a midwife. A questionnaire was used for evaluation at a minimum of 6 months after the treatment. The mean number of appointments to the counselor was 12 (4-24) and 15 (9-26) to the midwife during a mean period of 53 weeks (19-92). Nineteen women (79%) considered themselves to be cured or having greatly improved. Intercourse frequency was increased (p = 0.001) and coital pain was reduced (p = 0.02) after completing the treatment. Improvements in sexual functioning and coping strategies for psychological impairment and stress were reported. Women with provoked vestibulodynia benefit from a multidisciplinary treatment model including desensitization of the vestibular mucosa, rehabilitation of the pelvic floor, and psychosexual adjustments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Backman
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Widenbrant
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bohm-Starke
authors.forename: Lars-Gosta
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Dahlof
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D012731:Sex Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult